Simi Valley Elks Club gives food baskets to 167 local families

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Marele Clifford-Friesen, who does public relations for the Simi Valley Elks, helps Sonia and Fernando Ventura's two children Kimberly, 8, and Lupita, 6, find that special toy during the Simi Valley Elks Annual Holiday Basket Giveaway on Saturday. The family also received a complete Christmas dinner with all the fixings and got to meet with Santa. The Elks provided 167 dinner baskets this year. JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Volunteer Alicia Porter, 17, carries a box of food as Simi Valley Elks member Marele Clifford-Friesen helps organize a home delivery for the Elks Annual Holiday Basket Giveaway on Saturday. The giveaway included a complete Christmas dinner and toys for children of families going through tough times in Simi Valley. The Elks provided 167 dinner baskets this year. JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Volunteer Miranda Carabello, 16, helps deliver food to Carina Cordova during the Elks Annual Holiday Basket Giveaway on Saturday. The baskets included a complete dinner with all the fixings. The Elks have been providing this service for approximately 25 years and gave out 167 meals this year. JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Volunteers Russ Myers, left, and Eric Smith load up a van with boxes of food during the Simi Valley Elks Annual Holiday Basket Giveaway on Saturday at the Elks Lodge on Kuehner Road. Each box contained a complete Christmas dinner with all the fixings. These meals were being delivered to some of the less fortunate families in Simi Valley and local sober living homes. The Elks provided 167 dinner baskets this year. JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Elks member Tom Kenney helps package the free turkeys and hams during the Simi Valley Elks Annual Holiday Basket Giveaway on Saturday at the Elks Lodge on Kuehner Road. Kenney has been helping with the giveaway for nine years. Families going through tough times received a complete Christmas dinner with all the fixings. The Elks provided 167 dinner baskets this year and have been providing the free dinner giveaway for approximately 25 years. JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Volunteers Alicia Porter, 17, from right, and Madison Carabello, 16, help Penelope Vargas with her cart of food and toys during the Elks Annual Holiday Basket Giveaway on Saturday. The giveaway included a complete Christmas dinner and toys for children from some less fortunate families in Simi Valley. JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Volunteer Madison Carabello, 16, makes sure food is secured for the drive home during the Elks Annual Holiday Basket Giveaway on Saturday. The giveaway included a complete Christmas dinner for some of the less fortunate families in Simi Valley. These meals were being delivered by a Good Samaritan to her neighbors. The Elks provided 167 meals this year. JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Penelope Vargas takes a photo of her daughters Xochitl, 8, from right, and Citlali, 9, and her granddaughter Savannah as they got to meet Santa, played by Jim Vandenberg, during the Elks Annual Holiday Basket Giveaway on Saturday. They also got to take home a holiday basket that included a complete dinner with all the fixings. Vandenberg is the Elks Club treasurer and has been playing Santa at the giveaway for 10 years. The Elks have been providing this service for approximately 25 years and gave out 167 meals this year. JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR

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Volunteer Alicia Porter, 17, carries a box of food as Simi Valley Elks member Marele Clifford-Friesen helps organize a home delivery for the Elks Annual Holiday Basket Giveaway on Saturday. The giveaway included a complete Christmas dinner and toys for children of families going through tough times in Simi Valley. The Elks provided 167 dinner baskets this year.(Photo: JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR)Buy Photo

Elks members said that some of the baskets went to those who have a family member going through hospice care or sober living. Other families were chosen by the Samaritan Center, which helps less fortunate local residents.

The Simi Valley Elks Club, whose motto is "Elks Care and Elks Share," has been carrying out this Christmas program for a quarter of a century.